JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The University of Iowa track and field team traveled to North Florida University to compete against the Big Ten’s best and captured 12 gold medals on Day 2 of the B1G Florida Invitational on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Hawkeyes opened the day in the field with the discus and triple jump.
In the men’s discus open, Dawson Ellingson led the way finishing seventh with a throw of 48.80 meters. Jordan Hawkins and Austin West finished 13th and 23rd with throws of 46.14 meters and 39.07 meters. West recorded a career best in his discus debut.
Laulauga Tausaga earned her second gold medal of the weekend, winning the invite discus with a throw of 59.24 meters. Serena Brown completed the one-two sweep finishing second with a throw of 57.44 meters.
“Even though it wasn’t her best day Lagi continues to dominate the Big Ten in the discus with her second best mark of the season. Serena continues to improve and show that she’s one of the best in the nation,” said Iowa director of track and field Joey Woody.
James Carter, Jr. recorded his second career best of the weekend and his fourth in the last two weeks by finishing second in the invite triple jump. Carter recorded a jump of 15.94 meters, a mark that ranks fifth all-time in program history.
In the women’s invite triple jump, Eavion Richardson and Kayla Hutchins finished third and fourth with identical jumps of 12.52 meters. Hutchins’ jump was a new career best.
The quartet of Jason Hoffman, Tyler Olson, Alec Still, and Tysen VanDraska took home gold in the 4×800 relay with a time of 7:29.81, a time that ranks seventh all-time in program history.
Jamal Britt recorded his second career-best in as many days, winning the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.52. Josh Braverman, Gratt Reed, and Jaylan McConico finished sixth, seventh, and eighth with times of 14.03, 14.27, and 28.00.
In the women’s 400 open, Katie Moore finished 13th with a career best 57.94. Dallyssa Huggins was close behind in 14th with a time of 59.07.
In the men’s 400 open, the Hawkeyes won five of the top six spots. Antonio Woodard picked up the win with a career best 47.98. Woodard’s previous career best was 49.44. Armando Bryson finished second with a career best 48.32. Nolan Kembel was next, placing fourth in 48.85. Josh Andrews placed fifth with a career best 48.98. Tyler Olson finished sixth in 49.00.
Jordan Johnson placed third in the invite discus with a throw of 55.44 meters. Elijah Barnes finished sixth with a career best throw of 51.81 meters. Tyler Lienau placed eighth with a throw of 50.66 meters.
Jenny Kimbro won gold in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 59.25. Mariel Bruxvoort was next for the Hawkeyes in third with a time of 60.44. Payton Wensel and Karina Joyner finished fifth and eighth with times of 61.77 and 63.11.
In the men’s 400 hurdles, the Hawkeyes had four of the top six finishers. Jamal Britt finished second with a time of 51.43, just .01 from his career best. Austin Lietz ran 53.06 to finish third. Drake Woody placed fourth with a career best 53.29. Raymund Clarke finished sixth with a time of 54.08.
Mallory King led the way for the women in the 800-meters, placing fifth with a time of 2:08.01. Clare Pitcher was 10th with a time of 2:12.44. Logan Akason and Amber Aesoph finished 13th and 14th with times of 2:14.69 and 2:15.39. Aesoph’s time is a new career best.
In the men’s 800 meters, Kal Lewis picked up the win with a career best time of 1:51.96. Lewis’s finished very strong as his second lap was faster than his first. Jeff Roberts finished eighth with a time of 1:54.80.
In the women’s 200 meters, Lasarah Hargrove and Antoise Christian finished third and fourth. Hargrove dipped under 24 for the first time in her career with a time of 23.76. Christian finished with a time of 24.05.
Jaylan McConico brought home the gold medal in the open 200 meters with a time of 21.09. The time is career best for the McConico by almost eight-tenths of a second. Gratt Reed and DeJuan Frye were next in sixth and eight with times of 21.46 and 21.60. Evan Schuster finished 22nd with a time of 21.95 and Grant Conway was 31st with a career best 22.51. Tanner Iske was the final Hawkeye in at 34th with a time of 22.62.